Fri, 14 Mar 2025

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 Apple encrypted data row hearing begins in secret

The BBC - along with civil liberties groups and some US politicians - argue the case should be heard in public.

* The Investigatory Powers Tribunal has begun hearing Apple's encrypted data case against the UK government behind closed doors.
* The Home Office wants access to Apple user data that is protected by Advanced Data Protection (ADP), a tool that prevents anyone, including Apple, from accessing files.
* The UK government argues it needs to be able to access data if there is a national security risk, while Apple says this would compromise users' privacy.
* The BBC and other media outlets were barred from attending the hearing, despite arguing the case should be heard in public.
* Civil liberties groups and US politicians have criticized the decision to hold the hearing behind closed doors, saying it has major security implications.
* The case centers on balancing national security against individual privacy rights, with Apple warning that granting the UK government access to ADP-protected data would require creating a "backdoor" that could be exploited by hackers.
* The Home Office maintains that it only impacts on individuals' privacy in exceptional cases and when necessary to prevent serious crimes.
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